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The evaluation of heavy metal accumulation and application of a comprehensive bio-concentration index for woody species on contaminated sites in Hunan, China

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Abstract

Fast-growing metal-accumulating woody plants are considered potential candidates for phytoextraction of metals. Shuikoushan mining, one of the biggest Pb and Zn production bases in China, presents an important source of the pollution of environment during the last 100 years. Over 150 km2 of fertile soil have been contaminated by the dust, slag, and tailings from this mining. The goal of the present work has been to determine the content of Pb, Zn, Cd, and Cu in wild woody plants (18 species) naturally growing in this area. Two hundred five plant and soil samples from 11 contaminated sites were collected and analyzed. In addition, to assess the ability of multi-metal accumulation of these trees, we proposed a predictive comprehensive bio-concentration index (CBCI) based on fuzzy synthetic assessment. Our data suggest some adult trees could also accumulate a large amount of metals. Pb concentrations in leaves of Paulownia fortunei (Seem.) Hemsl. (1,179 mg/kg) exceeded the hyperaccumulation threshold (1,000 mg/kg). Elevated Pb concentrations (973.38 mg/kg) were also found in the leaves of Broussonetia papyrifera (L.) Vent., with a Pb bio-concentration factor of up to 0.701. Endemic species, Zenia insignis Chun exhibited huge potential for Zn and Cd phytoextraction, with the highest concentrations of Zn (1,968 mg/kg) and Cd (44.40 mg/kg), characteristic root nodules, and fast growth rates in poor soils. As for multi-metal accumulation ability, native species B. papyrifera was calculated to have the most exceptional ability to accumulate various metals simultaneously (CBCI 2.93), followed by Amorpha fruticosa L. (CBCI 2.72) and Lagerstroemia indica L. (CBCI 2.53). A trend of increasing metal from trunks to leaves (trunks < branches < leaves) and towards fine roots has been shown by metal partitioning between tissues. The proposed CBCI would allow for the selection of suitable trees for phytoremediation in the future.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology, China (2011BAD0103 and 2012BAC09B03). The authors are grateful to Dr. Fang-Ping Tong and Zhen-Hua Liu at the Research Institute of Forestry, Hunan Academy of Forestry, China, for their continuous support during the experiment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Tree Breeding and Cultivation, State Forestry Administration, Research Institute of Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, 100091, People’s Republic of China

    Xiulian Zhao, Jianfeng Liu, Jianmin Chu, Yuan Wei, Shengqing Shi, Ermei Chang & Zeping Jiang

  2. College of Biology, National Engineering Laboratory for Tree Breeding, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, People’s Republic of China

    Xiulian Zhao, Xinli Xia & Weilun Yin

Authors
  1. Xiulian Zhao
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  2. Jianfeng Liu
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  3. Xinli Xia
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  4. Jianmin Chu
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  5. Yuan Wei
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  6. Shengqing Shi
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  7. Ermei Chang
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  8. Weilun Yin
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  9. Zeping Jiang
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Correspondence to Zeping Jiang.

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Responsible editor: Elena Maestri

Xiulian Zhao and Jianfeng Liu contributed equally to the article.

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Zhao, X., Liu, J., Xia, X. et al. The evaluation of heavy metal accumulation and application of a comprehensive bio-concentration index for woody species on contaminated sites in Hunan, China. Environ Sci Pollut Res 21, 5076–5085 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-013-2393-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-013-2393-3

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